Benny's Path

Saturday, September 7, 2013

No Kill Rapid Emergency Response expected a "10 day assistance and outreach trip" when they showed up in Shawnee, Oklahoma to help animals displaced by massive tornados."When we arrived we found that there were no on the ground options remaining for pet families and victims of the disaster in this region, with many many animals still lost and wandering. We were asked to stay. We couldn't bear to see them homeless, lost and alone; so we changed plans and promised to stay for as long as we are needed. We are still here. We are still working."These good people literally hit the deck running with what "started as a tarp stretched between a van and trailer full of collected relief supplies has now grown into a temporary shelter

with apurchased 12X40 modified cooled ShelterLogic solution, an adult and 1 small puppy outdoor play area(s), an air conditioned nursery building, with supply tents and a large storage shed."

NKRER is begging for help.Theydesperately need donations, equipment and supplies to continue their selfless rescue effort."For well over 60 days we ran on gasoline generators. The cost of fuel went way over $4000 to keep them cool and healthy during that time, with outdoor temperatures that topped 106. We now have electricity, but we are dreading the first bill with deposits and connection fees.We want to set up more outdoor play areas and shaded kennels for the dogs. We need to insulate and cool the large shed and create a nice safe exercise and play room for the cats. These things are all needed for their rehabilitation and re-socialization. They have all come so far, and they are all doing well, but recovery is a process. Some of them really need the extra time and work. We need to expand and improve their environment so they can finish healing.

Right now we are out of funds, and progress is at a standstill. There are still families who need supplies. We are out of dog food for distribution, and haven't been able to do our outreach rounds in days."

NKRER has put together listings of animals displaced by the tornados who need homes:

Friday, September 6, 2013

Austin, Texas has come to be known as the music capital of the world, but soon could be eclipsed as the global center for abandoned dogs.

Yesterday was a record day for Reunion Rescue. I get about 4,000 emails per day, many of them dealing with abandoned and stray pit bulls. Without my own tv show or government funding, it's difficult to answer every call, but I try to do my best.

A woman called about a situation in her neighborhood. She was trying to help a neighbor's dog who keeps escaping the yard when she discovered five beautiful dogs so thin they could barely stand up.

With temperatures over 100 each day, these dogs were delegated to the backyard as so many seem to be in Austin. Reunion Rescue is suffering from extremely low adoptions specifically due to so many dog owners who leave their pets in the backyard. Reunion has a policy to only adopt to crate training homes.

When Kimberly followed the neighbor's dog down the street, she came upon this situation. Horrified, she called Austin Animal Center 311 to report the abuse and was told they couldn't address the cruelty complaint until the next day.

"The neighbor at 6211 has not seen the 6213 neighbors in about 2-3 weeks. There have been no cars out front for some time now. The water to the house has been turned off. There is no mail in the mailbox. Trash is everywhere in the sideyards. No one has answered the door in 2 weeks. Living room furniture and a cat can be seen through the window by the front door. That window is open about 6-8 inches."

"There is no foul odor, but the cat desperately wants attention. I did see a couple of flies. However, that would be expected in Austin in September. We slipped the cat a little food through a small tear found in the window screen. Rescue groups for the dogs are being contacted. Two other neighbors and I fed the dogs last night. One of those neighbors helped me feed the dogs and the small cat this morning.

After taking photos and a video, we uploaded to Facebook and the community began to step up. Reunion's full and can't take on any more dogs, but we've already had one person offer to foster. Just think. If four other foster homes could become available, we could begin to raise the necessary funds to vet and care for these dogs and show them off at Strut Your Mutt this year.

Reunion Rescue is walking in Strut Your Mutt Austin, Texas at Mueller Park September 28. Please comment on the Facebook page if you might be interested in helping one of these dogs.

Neighbors are throwing food over the fence and waiting for animal control to come help these dogs. Austin Animal Center is super full right now as the new facility doesn't hold as many dogs as the old Town Lake Shelter held.

Reunion Rescue has a dream to be able to save dogs, but it's a huge struggle. In our town and the rest of the nation, there is more supply than demand. Wouldn't it be nice if Austin were known as kindness to dogs capital of the world, too?

Sapphire is a small chow mix puppy who was discovered by caring Houstonians. As reported by Pet Rescue Examiner, Saphhire was found "whimpering in the bushes on Kingwood and Garden Oaks Drive near a Starbucks in Houston earlier this week. A harness was strapped so tightly around her tiny body, it had embedded itself into the tender puppy's skin; oozing with a serious infection and covered in maggots."What 31,935 people who 'like' the Houston SPCA on Facebook don't seem to realize is a sad fact about killing at this facility. Had Sapphire been a pit bull or pit bull mix puppy, she would have been killed as are all pit bulls at Houston SPCA.

The facility is marketing this puppy as an abuse case and asking for help from the community. While efforts to save any animal is applauded, why aren't all animals being cared for by the organization thriving on 10 million dollars per year in donations?

A page questioning the practices of Houston SPCA has been created on Facebook called

This is no name pittie killed at Houston SPCA

No Name Pittie Will Die at Houston SPCA. We tried to save this beautiful stray Houston pit bull a couple of years ago whose grave error was to wander up to the wrong house for a drink of water. The man who furnished her with that last drink of water believed everything he saw on Houston SPCA Animal Cops, the long running television show. He believed that all animals were saved at this organization.This pit bull along with hundreds, thousands of other pit bull dogs are routinely killed at this facility.Please visit No Name Pittie Will Die at Houston SPCA and share your thoughts. The lawyer for animal abuser Leah Purcell and Spindletop has tried to put a stop to Pit Bulls and Other Animals and American Pit Bull Examiner articles about Houston SPCA and Spindletop abuse. We will continue to report any and all animal cruelty and abuse and the needless killing of America's native dog breed at this high dollar institution.Sign the petitionto fire Patti Mercer and investigate Houston SPCA: Until the killing stops, Houston SPCA is no better than Denver.